First Drive: Front Runner’s Overland-Ready Ranger Raptor

The mid-size truck segment is in the midst of an off-road renaissance, as Ford, GM, Nissan, and Toyota all offer option packages that pile on extra ground clearance, improved shocks, skid plates, and other off-road amenities. They’re performing better off-road with every generation while also becoming ever more comfortable daily drivers. However, the factory configuration is merely a jumping-off point. OEMs know it and have made it easier to outfit their products with aftermarket lights, bed accessories, and other gear to make their trucks into off-road Swiss Army knives.

To showcase how well its products integrate with an already impressive off-road performer, Front Runner Vehicle Outfitters, based in Agoura Hills, California, invited us to drive its new Ranger Raptor. As such, this review specifically focuses on the kit rather than the capabilities of the vehicle itself.

Equipped with its Pro Bed Rack Kit and Slimsport Cab Rack along with products from KC, Addictive Desert Designs, and Front Runner’s parent company Dometic, the mid-sized Raptor represents what a customer can build to take on a wide range of outdoor activities. We borrowed it for a couple of days to see how it is to live with an accessorized pickup both as a daily driver and as a weekend escape vessel.

Like its ZR2 and AT4X competition from Chevrolet and GMC respectively, the Ranger Raptor is only available in four-door, crew cab configuration. That means more room for passengers and a shorter bed for hauling everything else. Front Runner’s Slimsport Cab Rack tackles that problem by offering a platform that can mount a light bar and serve as a mounting place for bulky gear bags. Front Runner’s waterproof Typhoon Bags were strapped down with webbing-reinforced shock cords to add rainproof storage that’s easy to access from the mid-size Raptor’s wide running boards.

Those bags were one of our chief concerns going into our weekend with the Front Runner Ranger Raptor. New vehicles offer a quiet, isolated cabin and it would spoil a lot of the experience if the cab rack or the gear stowed aboard it created a whistling, flapping racket. Driving down the highway with the bags in place resulted in only one scenario that created an off-putting, hard-to-pinpoint warble and that was when we were headed close-hauled into the wind. We removed the bags and stowed them in the bed for the return trip and couldn’t duplicate the noise, so the rack and the low-profile lights seemed to be sorted out in that regard.

Ranger Raptors have the power, ground clearance, and suspension travel to tackle various off-road obstacles and terrain. However, we had some trepidation when it came to handling rough terrain with a truck full of gear. The modular construction of the Pro Bed Rack Kit means that it can be shipped in a reasonably sized box and manufactured without a lot of costly welding. It also means it has several bolted-together joints. We were initially a bit wary that those bolted joints might make for a wobbly foundation, but the rack is secured firmly to the bed and the locking nuts kept the whole thing secure and rigid. The Ranger Raptor’s sturdy chassis has to help there, as it flexes a lot less than you might be used to if you haven’t been around a pickup in a while.

The only other concerns we had with the added gear were the weight and fuel economy penalties. The Pro Bed Rack is made from aluminum, but many of the other bits are made from steel. Both the Bed Rack and the Cab Rack are higher than the truck’s roof, so there’s added frontal area and drag as well. We found that highway fuel economy leveled out at around 15mpg, a noticeable dip from the 18mpg EPA rating. The truck was equipped with a 1.5-inch leveling kit and 35-inch tires, so those were also taking their toll.

Various Front Runner accessories help customers equip their trucks for specific activities, with mounts for kayaks, skis, snowboards, fishing rods, or bikes, and allow the mid-size truck to handle gear like a full-size. The Pro Bed Rack ($1,799), Slimline Cab Rack ($1,065), and Pro Stainless Steel Prep Table Kit ($584) make up the three most expensive items from Front Runner, whose items used in the build totaled around $5,000. That makes them comparable to other custom bed solutions like a fiberglass shell.

Highs: Sturdy construction and finish, incredibly customizable.
Lows: There’s only so much real estate on a short bed, so you must choose wisely. Extra gear drags down already unimpressive fuel economy.
Takeaway: The right aftermarket gear can make the Ranger Raptor a viable option to consider as a family overlander if full-size towing capacity isn’t a requirement.